Norwegian FA Unhappy With Nike Over Haaland’s Early 2026 World Cup Kit Reveal
- Nike's Premature Kit Reveal: The Norwegian FA is frustrated with Nike for releasing the 2026 World Cup kits featuring Erling Haaland before the federation's planned launch date.
- Communication Breakdown: Nike did not inform the Norwegian FA about the Instagram teaser video, forcing them to rush their official kit release.
- Protecting Haaland: Despite the uncoordinated launch, the Norwegian FA Head of Brand Management clarified that Erling Haaland is not to blame for the situation.
A highly unusual and somewhat uncoordinated situation has unfolded surrounding the launch of Norway's new national team jerseys. According to a recent report by Flash Score, the Norwegian Football Association (NFA) has been left deeply frustrated with Nike after the sportswear giant prematurely revealed the 2026 World Cup kits, completely bypassing the federation's official release schedule.
Norwegian FA Unhappy With Nike Over Haaland’s Early 2026 World Cup Kit Reveal
The original plan was straightforward: the NFF intended to officially launch their new 2026 World Cup kits today, March 23, aligning perfectly with Nike's global release calendar.
However, on March 19 - four days ahead of schedule—Nike and superstar striker Erling Haaland suddenly dropped a teaser video on Instagram. While it may have been intended as a short promotional clip, both the new home and away shirts were clearly displayed at the end of the video.
The core issue is that neither the Norwegian Federation nor its key executives were informed about the plans for this Instagram post. The sudden reveal forced the NFF to scramble and prematurely launch the 2026 kits just to match the leaked teaser, leaving them completely unprepared.
Speaking to NRK, Jan Ove Nystuen, Head of Brand Management at the NFF, expressed his disappointment:
"Maybe they went out with the kit now because of the danger of things being leaked, I'm not sure. But now the cat is out of the bag. And the race we've been on has come to an end."
Instagram 'Firefighting'
A quick look at Nike's Instagram timeline reveals a distinctly disjointed release strategy.
The initial teaser video featuring Haaland only tagged the player himself, completely omitting any mention or tag for the Norwegian FA. In an apparent "firefighting" move to create a sense of seamlessness, Nike immediately followed up with an official kit release post, this time making sure to tag the national team account (@herrelandslaget).
This lack of cohesion and communication from Nike has been viewed as somewhat unprofessional, as they effectively went over the federation's head to publish the teaser.
No Blame on Haaland
Despite the chaotic launch making the federation look uncoordinated, Nystuen was quick to defend their star striker.
"This is classic. This makes us look very bad," admitted Nystuen. "But Erling (Braut Haaland) is not to blame for this at all. Here, others have broken the publishing cycle."
What are your thoughts on Nike's handling of this kit launch? Should brands have more freedom to reveal kits using their star athletes, or should they strictly respect the federation's schedule? Let us know in the comments below.
First Real Images: Adidas F50 Hyperfast 26-27 Black Pack Boots Leaked
The first real-life images of the upcoming Adidas F50 Hyperfast Elite boots in a stealthy black colorway have surfaced online, courtesy of Pejie.
Set to be part of a black pack for the 2026-27 season, the boots feature a predominantly black upper highlighted by striking light blue accents across the branding and soleplate.
Rangers 26-27 Home Kit Released
Rangers FC and Umbro have officially unveiled the club's new home kit for the 2026-27 season. The launch is centered around the theme "Bound By Blue," celebrating the strong connection between the club and its supporters.
The Umbro Rangers 2026-27 home jersey features the club's iconic royal blue base, enhanced by subtle pinstripe detailing incorporated into the fabric. The design utilizes modern Umbro craftsmanship to deliver a clean and traditional look that stays true to the club's heritage.
The new Umbro Rangers 26-27 home kit is available to purchase in stores and online starting Wednesday, June 24.
FC Barcelona Kit Insider Teases Massive Leak
FC Barcelona kit collector and insider @memorabilia1899 has teased a major leak scheduled for today, June 24, stating that it will blow up the timeline and change everything.
While the account is primarily known for highly accurate early information and images of upcoming Barcelona kits, the cryptic nature of the announcement has led to widespread speculation among fans.
Ravenna FC 26-27 Ronaldinho Collaboration Kit Released
Italian Serie C club Ravenna FC has released a special collaboration kit with Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho, who is set to be registered as a player for the 2026-27 season. The announcement, made in Miami, revealed Ronaldinho's multifaceted role as a shareholder, global promotional face, and player aiming to score his final professional goal.
The Nike Ravenna FC 2026-27 Ronaldinho special jersey features a white base paired with elegant gold accents. The standout design element is an enlarged club crest graphic prominently displayed across the front of the shirt. It features Ronaldinho's logo on the left chest instead of the club crest and his iconic number 10.
The Nike Ravenna 2026-27 Ronaldinho collaboration kit is currently available to purchase through the club's dedicated online store.
Portsmouth 26-27 Home Kit Released
The new Portsmouth FC 2026-27 home kit was officially unveiled, preparing the club for the upcoming Championship season. Produced by Nike, the latest shirt celebrates a significant milestone for the local community, honoring 100 years since Portsmouth was granted city status. The launch was accompanied by the official club tagline, "A century of pride, a future of possibility."
Nike's Portsmouth 2026-27 home shirt features the club's traditional blue base, combined with golden logos for a standout look.
Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 CR7 "Gold Scorpion" Boots Leaked
Nike has officially released the limited-edition Mercurial Superfly 11 "Gold Scorpion" football boots to celebrate Cristiano Ronaldo's historic achievement. The Portuguese forward recently became the first player in history to score in six consecutive World Cups, prompting Nike to honor his legacy with this special release.
The Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 CR7 "Gold Scorpion" boots feature a striking gold upper accented with bold red details and a large white Swoosh. The design prominently displays "CR7" branding on the heel area, alongside the signature Superfly details. The golden aesthetic pays homage to Ronaldo's remarkable career and his latest World Cup scoring record.
Targeted at collectors and fans, the Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 "Gold Scorpion" is strictly limited to exactly 2,026 pairs worldwide, referencing the year of the tournament. The boots are available on the Nike SNKRS app starting June 24, 2026.
Nike Cristiano Ronaldo 'Gold' Mercurial Superfly RGN Boots Released
Nike has officially released the special edition Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN football boot to celebrate Cristiano Ronaldo's remarkable 20-year career and his legacy on the international stage. The metallic gold and white boots commemorate his unprecedented achievement of scoring in six different World Cup tournaments.
Officially named the Nike Mercurial Superfly RGN SE FG, the boots feature a striking metallic gold base with white accents. Tech-wise, they are based on the latest Mercurial Superfly, incorporating a 3/4-length Air Zoom unit, Flywire support, and a tacky soft upper finish for optimal ball control.
The Cristiano Ronaldo Nike Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN boots are available from today, June 24, 2026, retailing at 300 USD.
Campobasso 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Revealed
Italian Serie C side Campobasso FC have officially unveiled their new Nike home, away, and third kits for the 2026-27 season.
They introduce designs based on teamwear but nicely customised by the team.
The home retains the classic stripes, the away comes with a navy vertical stripe, while the third is black and gold.
Good or Bad? Rexona Armpit Sponsorship on 2026 World Cup Referee Shirts
Update - Tuesday, June 23, 2026: Following our publication, Rexona contacted us to provide additional context on the activation.
According to Ben Curtis, Global Brand Vice President for Rexona at Unilever, the sponsorship is intended to highlight fourth officials, who "may not always be the focus of attention but are at the centre of some of football's most intense and anticipated moments," as part of Rexona's "It Won't Let You Down" campaign during the FIFA World Cup 2026. "They need to remain cool and calm under pressure - That's exactly why this partnership is such a natural fit for Rexona."
The 2026 World Cup referee shirts feature one of the most amusing and strategic sponsorship placements seen in football. Deodorant brand Rexona has their logo positioned directly under the armpits of the match officials' jerseys, creating a highly contextual advertising opportunity.
The Rexona logo remains largely hidden during regular play but becomes clearly visible whenever a referee raises their arms to signal a free kick, award a penalty, or issue a card. This placement perfectly matches the deodorant product being advertised, resulting in a memorable piece of marketing on the sport's biggest stage.
While this specific placement has caught the attention of fans during the 2026 tournament, it is not entirely unprecedented. A similar concept was previously executed in Brazil, where Avanço deodorant sponsored the armpits of Corinthians. However, Rexona's execution at a World Cup brings the clever concept to a massive global audience.